Method and arrangement for a handover between base station controllers

1. An arrangement for carrying out a handover between first and second base station controllers in a telecommunications system that comprises a local exchange of a fixed network; mobile stations; base station systems providing the mobile stations with a wireless access network to the local exchange, each base station system comprising a base station controller and a plurality of base stations; transmission circuits for connecting the local exchange to the base station controllers; the control of the handover between the base station controllers being located in the base station controllers so that the first base station controller of the call functions as the anchor point at which the original connection established via the local exchange is maintained, and from which a further connection is established to a second base station controller in a handover, the base station controllers being arranged to maintain the local call connection between base station controllers at the end of the call, and keep it in reserve for the following handover between base station controllers, the first or second base station controller being arranged to make the decision on using said reserved local call connection as a further connection in a new handover between base station controllers and to communicate the decision to the other one of the base station controllers.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base station controllers are arranged to establish a new local call connection between the base station controllers in advance, if necessary, and keep it in reserve for the following handover between the base station controllers.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a same local call connection is used for establishing two or more non-simultaneous further handover connections without releasing it between the connections.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein establishing a further handover connection via said reserved local call connection only involves signalling between the base station controllers.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, comprising a permanent transmission connection between at least two base station controllers, one of the base station controller participating in the handover being arranged to decide whether the further handover connection is a local call switched via an ISDN local exchange, or a connection established via said permanent transmission connection, and to communicate the decision to another base station controller.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein said local call is a new local call that has been established for a handover.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said local call is a local call established previously between the base station controllers and having available transmission capacity.

8. A method for performing a handover between base station controllers in a telecommunications system comprising a local exchange of a fixed network; mobile stations; base station systems providing the mobile stations with a wireless access network to the local exchange, each base station system comprising a base station controller and a plurality of base stations; and transmission circuits for connecting the local exchange to the base station controllers, comprising the steps of: establishing a connection for a call from the local exchange to a first base station controller serving a mobile station, performing a handover for switching the call and the mobile station from the first base station controller to a second base station controller, controlling the handover by the base station controllers independently of the local exchange, saving the connection from the local exchange to the first base station controller, establishing a further connection from the first base station controller to the second base station controller as a local call switched via the local exchange, switching the call via said further connection to the second base station controller, the method further comprising maintaining the local call connection between the base station controllers at the end of the call, if necessary, and keeping it in reserve for the following handover between base station controllers, making a decision in the first or the second base station controller on using said reserved local call connection as a further connection in a new handover between base station controllers, communicating the decision from the base station controller that has made the decision to the other one of the base station controllers, establishing a further handover connection via said reserved local call connection from the first base station controller to the second base station controller.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, comprising a step of using the same local call connection for establishing two or more non-simultaneous further handover connections without releasing it between the connections.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8, comprising a step of establishing a further handover connection via said reserved local call connection by means of signalling between the base station controllers only.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8, comprising the steps of deciding in the first or the second base station controller whether a further handover connection is established from the first base station controller to the second base station controller as a local call switched via the local exchange or via a permanent transmission connection between the base station controllers, communicating from the base station controller that has made the decision, the selected handover connection type to the second base station controller, establishing a further connection in accordance with the selected connection type from the first base station controller to the second base station controller.

12. A method for performing a handover between base station controllers in a communications system comprising a local exchange of a fixed network; mobile stations; base station systems providing the mobile stations with a wireless access network to the local exchange, each base station system comprising a base station controller and a plurality of base stations; and transmission circuits for connecting the local exchange to a base station controllers, comprising the steps of: establishing a call connection from the local exchange to the first base station controller serving a mobile station, performing a handover for switching the call and the mobile station from the first base station controller to a second base station controller, establishing a new local call connection in advance and keeping it in reserve for a handover between base station controllers, controlling the handover by the base station controllers independently of the local exchange, saving the call connection from the local exchange to the first base station controller, making a decision in the first or the second base station controller on using said reserved local call connection as a further connection in a new handover between base station controllers, communicating the decision by the base station controller that has made the decision, to the other base station controller, establishing a further handover connection via said reserved local call connection from the first base station controller to the second base station controller.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, comprising a step of using a same local call connection for establishing two or more non-simultaneous simultaneous further handover connections without releasing the call between the connections.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, comprising a step of establishing a further handover connection via said reserved local call connection by means of signalling between the base station controllers only.